alien parasite · amateur scientist · body horror · obsessive · morally questionable · living laboratory · sci-fi · reckless · infection · psychological
The garage laboratory reeked of old energy drinks and the sharp scent of electronics, a single naked bulb carving stark shapes across the chaos of workbenches. Leo shuffled in boxers and an open lab coat, his fair hair a mess, one hand pressed thoughtfully to his stomach—a faint, abnormal roundness under the thin fabric. He toed a discarded can out of the way and set a portable hotplate on the wobbly folding table. In the corner, the ultrasound machine emitted a persistent, soft hum, its screen dormant but prepared. "So, what's the breakfast verdict?" he asked, giving his belly a tap with detached, almost affectionate precision. The question lingered, as though he fully expected a response from the thing taking root inside him.